Russia delivered a batch of Mi-35M and Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopters to Iraq

Another batch of Mi-35M and Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopters was delivered to Iraq by An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft, a source told TASS at MAKS-2015 airshow.

In accordance with the delivery schedule, Iraq took delivery of four Mi-35M and four Mi-28NE attack helicopters. The vehicles feature the full combat configuration and are fitted with the night vision equipment, TASS reports with reference to a military attaché.

It was reported earlier that Baghdad would take delivery of 43 combat helicopters by 2016 (24 Mi-35M and 19 Mi-28NE vehicles). These helicopters will be used to fight terrorist groups in Iraq. So far Iraq have taken delivery of 16 Mi-35Ms and 11 Mi-28NEs.

The contract for delivery of military equipment and vehicles worth $4,2 billion between Russia (Rosoboronexport) and Iraq was signed in 2012 during a visit of Iraqi President to Moscow. The contract is implemented by Rostvertol (part of Russian Helicopters Holding Company), which manufactures Mi-35M and Mi-28NE combat helicopters, as well as Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters. According to experts, the cost of the delivered vehicles, including ground equipment and weapons, exceeds $1 billion.

In 2012 Baghdad and Moscow signed a number of contracts in the area of military-technical cooperation worth $4,2 billion for the first time since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In particular, the contracts include deliveries of 30 Mi-28 attack helicopters and 42 Pantsir air defense missile-gun systems.

Traditionally Iraq purchased most of its military equipment in USSR and Russia. Over 30 years period of cooperation with USSR the country spent $30,5 billion on these purposes. Previous deals include deliveries of more than 1000 aircraft and 350 helicopters, air defense systems, transport vehicles and vessels. Baghdad resumed exports of Russian weapons and military equipment, because the country’s armed forces got used to operating Russian defense products; moreover, Iraq wanted to diversify their suppliers – new authorities purchased most combat aircraft from USA.